Featured Runner: Dick Chase, Southborough

Dick Chase, along with hundreds of other runners and supporters, came to Hopkinton yesterday morning for a little Marathon warmup.

Kimberly A. Hooper, Daily News correspondent

Dick Chase, along with hundreds of other runners and supporters, came to Hopkinton yesterday morning for a little Marathon warmup.

The runners gathered to support several charities sponsored by the Boston Athletic Association as well as practice running 21 miles of the Marathon route before the actual race, on April 18.

Chase, 46, of Southborough, is a survivor of liver disease, and this year will be his second Marathon. He looked at the tuneup run as a good way for people to practice and come together.

"If you ended the 21-miler fine, you know you can do the Marathon," he said. It's a big confidence-builder, and you finally realize, 'Oh my gosh, my body is ready for that!' "

The software development manager, who received a clean bill of health recently from doctors, is taking on both the 21-miler and the Boston Marathon for the American Liver Foundation, as part of their Run For Research team. Chase's reasons for running are as personal as they come.

"Several years ago, I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C," he said. "Somehow, after nearly a year of difficult treatment, I was declared virus-free. Before the diagnosis, I was a 250-pound couch potato. Then, inspired by my wife who has been running since college and ran the Boston Marathon in 2007, I took up running. Now I'm a 175-pound guy who thinks running marathons is fun. Who would have thought that?"

Chase said he looks forward to charity runs and races like yesterday's because he has fun and can spend time with people he's trained with. His friend Jim, who also ran yesterday, had a liver transplant 18 months ago.

Jim is an inspiration to keep running for a good cause, said Chase, who also draws encouragement from his wife, Francie, and their two daughters, Samantha, 15, and Hallee, 11.

"Jim got his new liver in September of 2009, then ran the (7-mile) Falmouth Road Race 11 months later in August 2010, the Chilly Half Marathon in Newton 14 months after in November 2010, and it will be a little over 19 months since his transplant when he runs Boston with us. Absolutely amazing," Chase said.

Chase said he likes rendezvousing with training friends, and running also helps him be a role model to his children, as he teaches them the important of staying physically fit and giving back.

The charity runs, which he enjoys because the participants get to race as a group, have been just one part of his training regimen. Chase said he has logged over 500 miles over almost 200 hours, including between downtown Boston and Newton and back eight times.

He even wore a pink tutu while running 17 miles from Natick to Back Bay during a Valentine's Day jaunt.

"There's something invigorating and beautiful about being out and about by yourself and seeing the sun rise on a quiet cold winter morning while getting in some good aerobic exercise," he said.